Abercrave Ironworks

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The monument comprises the remains of several buildings, including a blast furnace, coke oven and leat and an open excavated area related to the production of iron. Abercrave Ironworks was the first works built specifically to smelt iron using anthracite fuel and was opened in 1824 by Daniel Harper. The use of anthracite in iron smelting was only achieved in 1837, with the work of David Thomas at nearby Ynyscedwyn and the Abercrave Ironworks proved a failure, closing in 1829. It operated again between 1855 and 1861, but was unused subsequently. The ironworks was situated next to the terminus of the Swansea Canal and tramroad to Cribarth quarries. A diversion from the canal's feeder supplied a waterwheel powering the works, measuring 10.6m in diameter. The remains include the stone revetment of a charging area, plateway, leat leading to the stone wheelpit, circular furnace base, two large bears of solidified iron and the tramroad embankment.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance and illustrate our knowledge and understanding of the development of the iron industry. An ironworks may be part of a larger industrial complex and their importance can further enhanced by their group value.

The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.